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Several drivers were caught out in the first lap incident during the Australian Grand Prix setting the tone for an exciting season-opener.
The coming together as cars headed into the first corner was particularly severe on Nico Hulkenberg, after he was forced to retire in his first race on his Formula 1 return.
“I don’t seem to have much luck at Albert Park. My first race here in 2010 was less than a lap and today was a repeat of that," the Force India driver said. "I’m still not really sure what happened, but I got hit when I turned into the first corner on lap one.
"It’s such a shame because I had made a great start, moved up a couple of positions and then I just felt somebody tap me from behind. There was a puncture and the suspension was damaged so my race was over and I had to park up," the innocent victim explained.
"These things happen when 22 cars are battling going into a tight first corner, but it’s really frustrating to miss out after such a good qualifying session," said the German who had qualified ninth.
Bruno Senna too had a great start but made contact in the melee and damaged his car after he tried to take the outside line at the first corner.
"I then had to do an extra pit stop which made things difficult," the Williams driver said.
It was Daniel Ricciardo who touched Senna's car but he too suffered because of the incident.
"At the start, I got caught up in the accident and at the moment I don’t understand how it happened or who was to blame," the Toro Rosso driver said. "I made a decent start, I moved to the outside but there were too many of us there.
"I hit the left front quite hard against a Williams and had to come in to change the nose. I had to race with a bit of damage after that. It’s good to finish ninth, but I think I could have done better because the car was very strong, given how fast it was even with the damage I had to carry through the whole race, with the car pulling to one side."
Teammate and debutant Jean-Eric Vergne made a good start only to find himself compromised
“I got a super start and I had moved up a few places, but then Webber touched my right rear and I went straight on, losing a lot of time," said the Frenchman.
Sergio Perez, who had started 22nd and last but had the best start to the race when he moved up to 12th before turn one only to find Sauber teammate Kamui Kobayashi trying to avoid a Williams in front of him. The Mexican driver's front wing was damaged as a result but it also created difficulties for Kobayashi.
"After the start I nearly crashed into Bruno who spun in front of me," the Japanese driver said. "I was lucky to avoid hitting him, but at the same time Sergio could not avoid touching me and then I had to do the whole race with a damaged rear wing. This was very difficult and for sure cost car performance.